The small, beautiful town of Kalimpong is located at an altitude of about 1200 meters above sea level. Jalpaiguri is a district in the Indian state of West Bengal. The distance between Darjeeling and Kalimpong is only 50 km. The city of Kalimpong was very important for trade between India and Tibet in the past.
In Tibetan, the word ‘Kalon’ means ‘king’s minister’ and ‘pong’ means ‘meeting’; thus, Kalimpong means ‘meeting of the king’s ministers’. The city of Kalimpong is believed to have been so named because it once housed the central office of the Governor of Bhutan. With its favorable climate, golden oak forests, and several tourist spots nearby, travelers flock to Kalimpong for vacations.
Sightseeing places in Kalimpong
Places to visit in Kalimpong include Gouripur House, a memorial to the poet Rabindranath Tagore; Reshop-Rimbic Tourist Center; the green village of Lolegaon; Delo Hill, the highest point in Kalimpong; Kalimpong Arts and Crafts Centre; Teesta Bazaar for inexpensive goods; the British colonial Roman Catholic Church; Jang Dhok Palri Phodang Buddhist Monastery; MacFarlane Church; Morgan House; Science City; Tosongan Gumpha Bhutanese Ashram; Lepcha Museum; Pineview Nursery; and Hanuman Temple. River rafting and paragliding can also be done in Kalimpong.
Travel time
The weather in Kalimpong is favorable for travel almost throughout the year. However, March to June and September to February are the best times to visit Kalimpong.
How to go
The distance from Kolkata to Kalimpong is 646 km. Darjeeling Mail departs from Sealdah station in Kolkata at 7 pm daily for New Jalpaiguri station. It takes 12 hours to reach New Jalpaiguri station from Sealdah. Buses, minibusses, and jeeps are available from New Jalpaiguri to Kalimpong. It takes about three hours to reach Kalimpong from New Jalpaiguri station. Kalimpong can also be reached by direct bus from Kolkata’s Ultadanga bus terminal.
The nearest airport to Kalimpong is at Bagdogra, adjacent to Siliguri, and the distance from Bagdogra to Kalimpong is about 70 km. There are regular flights to Bagdogra from Kolkata and Delhi.
Where you will stay
The West Bengal Tourism Department in Kalimpong has several tourist lodges. Morgan Tourist Lodge, Kalimpong Tourist Lodge, Tashi Tourist Lodge, and Hilltop Tourist Lodge are located on the main road near the bus stand. Additionally, you can stay overnight in a budget hotel according to your budget. Among the fairly good quality residential hotels, Deki Lodge, Himalayan Hotel, Hotel Silver Oaks, Kalimpong Park Hotel, JP Lodge, and Hotel Mountain View are worth mentioning.
Phone numbers of some hotels in Kalimpong:
- Holumba, Kalimpong. Phone: +913-552-256936
- Kalimpong Park Hotel, Ringkingpong Road, Kalimpong. Phone: +913-552-256656
- Hotel Himalaya, Phone: +913-552-255248
- Durpin Tourist Lodge, Durpin, Kalimpong. Phone: +913-552-2855140
- Delo Tourist Lodge, Delo, Kalimpong. Phone: +913-552-274101
- Alkananda Guest House, Upper Cart Road, Kalimpong. Phone: +913-552-25625
- Silver Oaks, Ringkingpong Road, Phone: +913-552-255368, +913-552-255766
(Note: Carry 5-6 sets of photocopies of your passport and visa.)
